Emotional songs you’ll want to listen to in summer: classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters.
When you think of summer, what kind of image comes to mind?
It’s a season that’s hot and liberating, with lots of fun events, right?
But alongside that glamorous image, don’t you sometimes feel a vague sense of wistfulness—something a bit emo?
In this article, we’ll introduce a bunch of emo songs you’ll want to listen to in summer, the kind that resonate with those feelings.
From band tracks to singer-songwriter pieces, we’ve gathered many songs across eras and genres, so be sure to take your time listening while reading the lyrics.
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Emo Songs to Listen to in Summer: Masterpieces by Rock Bands and Singer-Songwriters (31–40)
NatsumiAKASAKI
This work is packed with bittersweet memories.
Released in September 2024, the track quickly became a hot topic on platforms like TikTok.
You’ll be drawn in by the words woven with the delicate sensibilities of an 18-year-old.
The combination of lyrics and melody that evokes the end of summer is exquisite—leaving a lingering wistfulness while still carrying a comfortably pop feel.
It’s a song that supports those who’ve experienced heartbreak or want to overcome a farewell with someone important.
Perfect for a quiet night.
Baby BabyKami wa saikoro o furanai
A work whose straightforward vocals and emotional sound resonate with the heart.
Released in June 2024, this track is packed with feelings born during a tour of live music venues.
While it has an upbeat tempo, it also carries a faintly wistful atmosphere—a captivating, exquisite balance.
The lyrics, which strive to evoke a fleeting impulse, are sure to move you.
It’s a song you’ll want to play on a hot summer night with the window open.
Front Memory feat. ACA-ne (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.)Shinsei Kamattechan
An emotional song that pensively portrays the everyday moments of summer.
Released by Shinsei Kamattechan in August 2023, it features ACA-ne from Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.
Created as a rearranged version to commemorate the band’s 15th anniversary, the track delicately captures the hazy feelings many young people likely harbor.
It gives voice to those inexpressible emotions inside you.
A perfect song for those vaguely bittersweet summer moods—one that will surely stay by your side.
Let’s Go to the Sea (feat. PES)Lisa Halim
This surf music features a groovy, Latin-tinged rhythm that resonates comfortably alongside the sound of the waves.
Lisa Halim’s husky yet gentle vocals blend seamlessly with PES’s cool rap (formerly of RIP SLYME), vividly expressing a longing for the sea and memories of summer.
Produced by DJ HASEBE, the track was released as a digital-only single in October 2020 and drew attention after being picked up by major Spotify playlists.
It’s the perfect song for a seaside drive or reminiscing about summer.
End of the Summer RetreatWurtS
WurtS’s work, which deftly paints bittersweet summer scenes, is drawing attention as the perfect choice when you want to sink into an emo mood.
This piece captures the wavering emotions characteristic of one’s mid-twenties and the melancholy of summer’s end, expressed through a sound that fuses polished city pop with alternative influences.
The theme, inspired by Buddhist terminology, adds further depth.
The track is included on the EP “MAGICAL SOUP,” released in June 2021, and WurtS later provided a song for Toyota’s Corolla commercial.
Be sure to savor it alongside the lyrics during a summer sunset or whenever you find yourself seeking a moment of release.
Emotional songs you’ll want to listen to in summer: Classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters (41–50)
Crazy SummerKIRINJI
It’s a late-summer classic by KIRINJI.
The track appears on the EP “Sweet Soul ep,” released in March 2003, and is distinguished by Yasuyuki Horigome’s soft, translucent vocals—he also wrote the lyrics and composed the music.
If you listen to it on a sentimental night when you’re thinking of someone you can’t forget, it just might bring back the air of that day, still warm with heat.
It’s a song I especially recommend to anyone who has experienced an unforgettable, passionate love.
Blue SummerTRACK15
A perfect number for those fleeting, sentimental moments at the end of a dazzling season.
Released in June 2024 by the Osaka-based rock band TRACK15, this guitar-driven track captures the frustration of a hesitant love.
As vocalist Ren, who wrote the lyrics, says, he penned it “as if it were a soft drink commercial song,” blending a refreshing sound with a heart-tightening poignancy.
Give it a listen when you want to look back on bittersweet summer romance as the season fades.